Sheep Walk Plantation

The woodland at Sheep Walk Plantation is one of those Cambridgeshire spots that doesn't shout about itself, which is precisely why it works. You get proper forest walks without the crowds you'd find at more famous nature reserves, and on a decent afternoon you might have the place to yourself.

It's accessed easily from St. Neots - less than three miles out - making it a natural half-day detour if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks. The plantation itself is fairly compact, so don't expect sprawling trails that'll eat up hours of your day. What you get instead are shaded woodland paths that are ideal if you want a brisk walk after sitting on site, or if the weather turns a bit warm and you need to escape into some shade.

Families with young kids will manage fine here - it's not demanding terrain and there's enough to look at without needing a guide book. The main appeal is simple: you're under the trees, away from the road noise, and the air feels properly different from the campsite. Dog walkers gravitate here too, and it's easy to see why.

There's not much infrastructure, so come prepared. It's free access as far as I can tell, though it pays to check locally when you arrive at St. Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Cambridgeshire Lakes - both top-rated parks that are close enough for a quick visit. Worth building into a day rather than making a special trip, but a decent find if you're already in the area.